Intersex???? A condition in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not seem to fit the typical definition of female or male. The person has the appearance a normal female but has male typical anatomy in the inside. Or the person may be born with genitals that seem to be in between male and female.
The original term for this condition, hermaphroditism that came from joining the names of a Greek god and goddess, Hermes and Aphrodite. As you may have already made the connection, Hermes was the god of male sexuality and Aphrodite the goddess of female sexuality, love, and beauty.
Causes
Intersex can be divided into 4 categories
- 46 - XX Intersex
- 46 - XY Intersex
- True Gonadal Intersex
- Complex or Undetermined Intersex
The person has the chromosomes of a woman along with the ovaries, but external genital that appear male. This the result of the fetus having been exposed to excess male hormones before birth. These women have an enlarge clitoris that appears like a penis but usually they have normal uterus and fallopian tubes
46 - XY Intersex
This person has the chromosomes of a man but with external genitals are incompletely formed. Internally testes may be normal, malformed or absent; this condition is also known as 46 - XY with undervirilization. It was known as male pseudohermaphroditism; forming male external genitals depends on the right balance between male and female hormones.
True Gonadal Intersex
This person has both ovarian and testicular tissue, the person might have one ovary and one testis. This person may have XX chromosomes, XY chromosomes, or both; but the external genitals may be unclear or may appear to female or male. This condition was known as true hermaphroditism; in most people with true gonadal intersex the cause is unknown, yet in some animal studies it has been linked to exposure to common agricultural pesticides.
Symptoms
- Unclear genitalia at birth
- Micropenis
- Clitoromegaly
- Partial labial fusion
- Undescended testes in boys (may be ovaries)
- Labial or inguinal masses (may be testes) in girls
- Hypospadias
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Delayed or absent puberty
- Unexpected changes at puberty
- Chromosome Analysis
- Hormone leves
- Hormone Stimulation tests
- Electrolyte test
- Specific Molecular testing
- Endoscopic examination - to verify the absence or presence of a vaginal or cervix
- Ultrasound or MRI to evaluate internal sex organs
Conclusion
It use to be that surgery was highly recommended because having to reconstruct the female genitalia was easier than male genitalia, yet surgery or no surgery the child was assigned to be a female.
Now many experts disagree and encourage the delay of surgery for as long as possible without harming the child while involving the child in the gender decision.
Be aware that intersex is complex and its treatment has a short and long term consequences parents are encourage to have a good understanding of the condition before making rushing into a decision.
I agree with waiting to have the surgery, so the child becomes an adult can decide which gender feels right for them. I think with maturity of the body and mind, they are able to identify themselves either female or male. It must be a difficult and important decision that shouldn't be rush, but a process for the individual as well for the family.
ReplyDeleteI agree in waiting on surgery for children. I think they have the right to choose if they want to go through surgery to change or not. Many parents usually think about the well being of their child when they are young, but what if they go through the process and the child acts differently then what they think they are. Wouldn't this hurt them psychologically? I believe it would. It is best to talk to them when they are young and explain little by little their situation. It can take some time but children grow up and mature in which later they will have a word on what they think of their difference.
ReplyDelete